Righteousness #1 – It really is.

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Righteousness being #1 with God is a reminder to myself not to start the study process with many of my paradigms. The Father’s thoughts overwhelmed mine and left me with an open-ended study. I am not complaining, just humbled. The list of websites is just to help you get started. I referred to the NASB, KJV, MOUNCE, and NIV (1990 copyright).

Matthew 6:33 was at the top of my page, but it went to Melchizedek (king of righteousness) and then to Abram (Genesis 15). A quick search turned me to Noah in Genesis 7:1 and his covenant with God in Genesis 9. By the time I studied Chapters 1 to 66 of Isaiah, it was apparent that there would be several posts in this study.

I will fly with Matthew (for the last several years) to start a study if I can. So, Matthew 6:33 and Luke 12:31 having the same basic statement is just an added witness. Unfortunately, I have read people who “lose it” if you do not quote Matthew. My take on this is very simple; if you are seeking God and His Kingdom you are going to find righteousness. This belief has led to two thoughts: 1. God is holy and loves righteousness (Psalms 33:5 and Proverbs 15:9); 2. We do not get to tell God what those thoughts mean to Him and how He is to apply them. He has done that quite well!

In the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, words that deal with righteousness start with H6662 and end with H6666. My concordance is combined with Vine’s Dictionary but online or ink and leaf it is well worth the time it takes to read these entries. H6663 seems to be the main root word. Jots and tittles make a big difference, along with a letter added at the end. Remember to start looking on the right side and go left, they are Hebrew. Now for a look at a few mentions in Genesis.

  • Noah – Genesis 7:1, this reference is H6662. 2 Peter 2:5 identifies him as a preacher of righteousness. It is good to remember what the people were not doing; walking with or following God. Fallen angels had even polluted the human gene pool in an attempt to limit the birth of Jesus.
  • Melchizedek – melchi = king, zedek = righteous. He is also known as the King of Salem and the priest of the Most High God. This word is from H6664 and is a “relational form of the word”. He is mentioned more in the Book of Hebrews than in the Old Testament.
  • Abram – Genesis 15:6 states that he believed the Lord and it was credited to him as righteousness. This word is H6666 and this is the first time it is used in the Bible.

There are two major themes that righteousness is associated with – relational and legal. I believe this started in the Garden when Adam ate from the wrong Tree. Adam and Eve had a relationship with God, He walked in the Garden. When they sinned, the legal component came in because the rulership of Earth changed. The concept of righteousness is often associated with judgment. (An example is Isaiah 43:26.) It is observed that the Father is “jealous” for those who walk with Him.

Okay, my strange sense of humor kicked in when I saw that the numbers in the dictionary for righteous had three consecutive 6’s in it. (It is bad luck to be superstitious:) So, I looked up H666 it is used twice and deals with coverings, turbans, or ashes. G666 is used once and is apousia or being away or absent. It should be compared and contrasted with parousia.

This is my #1 post about righteousness, it won’t be the last.